Shamanic resources including articles, podcasts, free drumming music and more about shamanism.
Why can’t I see anything? I encounter this question and comment very regularly. One of the first things I say is have patience and compassion for yourself. We are immersed in a world which places increasingly high value on NOW. Shamanic journeys can be very challenging. It can be very hard to quiet the endless procession of thoughts, grocery lists & fears. Anytime we enter into a realm we are unfamiliar with we are likely to encounter resistance in one form or another. [Read more…]
Almost 25 years ago, I received my first degree in Usui Reiki. It was, to me, and my friends, absolutely unheard of. To achieve your Master level, the cost was still $10,000. Reiki has certainly come a very long way, inspiring a whole new genre of healers. I know many people, in and out of, my shamanic world, who are practitioners, and some, are also, teachers of Reiki.
My first introduction to Reiki, was just before I was introduced to Shamanism. At the time I experienced Reiki, I knew it was going to be the “second” part of my three pieces I needed to be “who I was meant to be”. If only it had all been that simple… but I am getting ahead of myself. My first experience receiving a Reiki treatment, was not at all a pleasant one. I remember it clearly, I received it on the Friday night of the weekend course. After the treatment, [Read more…]
Let’s start with first things first. In a very simple fashion this is how perception works: Perception establishes the meaning about an event or object when we make initial contact. We are essentially processing our information. At this stage all of our senses are engaged. Note: Click here if you’d like the podcast episode by the same name. [Read more…]
This upper world journey is the third journey we recommend as part of our series on shamanic journeys. If you haven’t read the first post in the series, we recommend your start here.
First listen to the sound of the drum and let your body relax. Set your intention and say out loud, or in your head, that you are journeying to meet your teacher. Use your imagination and begin at your anchor. Once you are comfortable being at your anchor spot begin to look around for a way to the Upper World. Ways to the Upper World can include climbing the world tree or a mountain, climbing a rainbow or a rope. For most of the years that I have been journeying I have jumped into a fire that is constantly burning in my anchor spot and traveled to the upper world on smoke.
It is important, especially when you are beginning to journey to the upper world that you are conscious of travelling through three layers. The first layer could be light smoke. The second layer could be thick clouds. But, on the third layer it is important to feel as though you are breaking through something. It is a classic shamanic journey experience to break through a barrier to get to the upper worlds. When explaining this concept to my students over the years I compared the layer that I broke through to the consistency of chocolate pudding that has been left in the fridge without a lid. When left in the fridge like this, pudding usually develops a crusty layer. That is what I felt like I was breaking through for many years of my journey experiences. [Read more…]
This lower world journey is part of our how to do shamanic journeys series and is recommended as your second journey. If you haven’t read the first post in the series, we recommend your start here.
First just listen to the sound of the drums or rattle and allow your body to relax. Set your intention by saying out loud or in silently to yourself that you are journeying to find your power animal. It is important to set an intention just like you would for any other spirit work. Begin by envisioning a place in nature that you are familiar with, your anchor spot. Use your imagination to help you start this process. When you can see the spot you have chosen start to look for an entrance into the Lower World.
An entrance into the lower world could be a fox hole, a hallowed out tree trunk, a ladder, a water fall… it could really be anything. The feature you are looking for is a way to get down into the Lower World. I would suggest staying away from unnatural features, such as an elevator. Once you have located an entrance into the Lower World prepare to move into it. I would like to point out that not all entrances into the Lower World are easy or comfortable. When we think of it in logical terms fitting into a fox hole for the average person could be a bit tight. It can be the same in the Spirit World, but have no doubt that you will be able to fit. What ever gift the spirit world gives you is more than likely the right way to enter into the Spirit World. Do not be discouraged if you find it difficult to enter, it can be a test by spirit to find out how much you really want to try this. [Read more…]